I found this site 2 days ago and the app last night and I have been reading quite a few posts. I am in the 2nd month of the 6 month required Dr's visit for my insurance approval but don't think I'll have any problems getting approved since I was approved for RNY back in 2009 and backed out. I was never confortable with the idea of having my stomach re-routed. I wanted the sleeve then but the surgeon was against it and really pushed the RNY so I fired him and waited for what I know was right for me. The sleeve is.

I have PCOS so I'm a little concerned with how well this will work for me but I know I have to do something. I also noticed that us black folks don't really seem to lose the weight as quickly as our counterparts and the few I've known who've done either RNY, DS, or sleeve didn't exactly reach goal or maintained at goal so this is a concern for me. So here are my questions:

1. How many of you that have PCOS have been successful with the sleeve?

2. How long did it take you to lose the weight? PCOS or not?

3. Were you able to reach goal and if so were you able to maintain at goal?

4. We as black women are not too keen on being paper thin, at least I'm not, so how did you deal with the transformation?

5. Was there anything surprising or unexpected about the transformation, good or bad, that you hadn't planned for? If so how did you deal with it.

I appreciate all feedback. Thanks

Hi Sheba. I was sleeved in 2011 and I started at 330 and lost about 75 pounds before I started to level out. I was a slow loser.. not sure why.. didn't think it was race related.. but interesting thought. I was a size 24 to start,, then when I lost the weight and got down to a size 18 I thought I was where I wanted to be. So since my weight lose started to level off. I didn't try as hard and started back to some old eating habits. I am sad to say.. now that I look back.. I wish I had stayed the restricted calorie phase longer and lost more weight.. I am proud to say I have managed to keep it off. I agree I had no desire to be paper thin, my husband began to bring home chocolate and chips ( my weakness ) and I think it was a way to keep me the size he really liked. Any way.. the only surprise and what I warn newbies about is the lack of energy in the very very beginning. It was really hard for me.. I thought I had made a mistake. I was very tired and weak for a few weeks.. be ready for that.. but don't fear hang in there and it will past. After 2 years, I'm still satisfied with my decision. the sleeve is a tool that is helping me to continue my weight loss journey. As I said.. I didnt' loose the weight I wanted to in the beginning and am now 255 and starting the journey down again. It's harder after 2 years. So stay focused, stay strong and try to lose as much weight as you can in the beginning.. Good Luck and stay in touch

I just saw this thread on the new site. Don't believe the myth that African Americans lose slower than others. I was sleeved on 2/19/13 and lost 115lbs in 2013. We simply need to make better choices and be more disciplined regarding the foods we grew up on as kids.

Wooohooo yu gooooooo